Further bands of poor weather will sweep across the country from the south
with no signs of improvement over the weekend

Britain continued to be battered by storms today, leaving many areas at risk of further flooding.

Yet more heavy rain and gale force winds will sweep across the country from the south in the coming days with no signs of reprieve over the weekend, forecasters warned.

The severe weather had caused damage to the transport network and sea defences as well as power lines, the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said, as he told the Commons that the Government would provide £130 million for emergency repairs and maintenance.

David Cameron will chair a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee later today.

Hundreds of flood alerts have been issued, including two severe flood warnings in the South West, meaning there is a risk to life.

The Environment Agency said the first warning affects the Salt Moor and North Moor while the second is in place on the A361 between east Lyng and Burrowbridge, including the Somerset Levels Basket and craft Centre Area.

A stretch of railway track in Dawlish, Devon has already been destroyed because of storms and experts are warning that further destruction could be on the way.

From 3pm on Thursday to 11pm on Saturday the Met Office has issued an amber severe weather warning for the South West, South East and London.

Mr Pickles said that £30 million would be spent on "emergency repairs and maintenance" this year with a further £100 million to be spent next year.

"This will cover costs incurred during the current emergency response cost and recovery as well as essential repairs to ensure that defences are maintained," he said.

Mr Pickles said that 5,000 properties have been flooded, including 40 in Somerset.

Many flood-hit homes on the Somerset Levels have already been evacuated, and further rainfall raises the prospect of more residents having to leave their houses.

Meanwhile some 664 homes were still suffering from power blackouts.

Mr Pickles said the full picture of the damage caused to flood defences since the coastal surge in December has "not yet emerged" and the Government will carry out a "rapid review" of the additional work required.

He also refuted comments made by the Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith who said that Britain may have to choose between saving town or country from future flooding because it is too costly to defend both.

"We will work to defend both town and country," said Mr Pickles.

"For the record, and with respect, I have to say I do not agree with the comments of Lord Smith who implied that there was a choice between town and country."

After a brief period of much-needed respite on Wednesday evening, rain has already started falling over southern-western parts, and the band of stormy weather will move steadily to the north, the Met Office said.

Mark Wilson, a meteorologist, said: “For many parts it was not a particularly wet night, but it’s going to go down hill.

“There is a band of rain pushing up from the south, currently affecting the south western parts of England already, and what we see through the course of today is that band of rain is continuing to push northwards.

“By this evening much of England and Wales will be affected by the rainfall.”

By Thursday afternoon much of England and Wales will be affected by the wet weather, which is likely to bring between 20mm and 40mm of rain.

Mr Wilson said while that level of rainfall is not abnormal for this time of year, there is a risk of flooding because it is falling on sodden ground. The Environment Agency has over 60 flood warnings across the South West, South East and the Midlands.

The persistent rain is likely to clear to the east on Friday bringing a brief period of calm before another system of low pressure will hit the south coast.

“By the evening we’re already seeing the next band of rain approaching through the south west of England,” Mr Wilson said.

While the level of rainfall will be similar to Thursday’s weather system, the winds could gust between 50mph and 60mph on the south coast and between 40mph and 50mph in land

Mr Wilson said: “Winds combined with heavy rain is exactly what we don’t need at the moment.”

The stormy weather will continue through the weekend as the band of heavy - and in parts torrential rain - moves through the country to the north bringing with it gusts of up to 70mph on the coast.

Sunday will bring more high winds, but slightly less rain, the Met Office said.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that Network Rail were in discussions with the Ministry of Defence to determine whether the Armed Forces are able to provide assistance with disruption to railway services.

"Patrick McLoughlin (the Transport Secretary) was talking about the fact that the immediate priority is for Network Rail to be assessing the damage that's been done," said the spokesman.

"They have brought in resources from outside the region to help them in that. The Secretary has also put Network Rail in touch with the Ministry of Defence, so that together they can consider the scope for any additional assistance."

Asked whether this could mean the Army being sent in to help mend the track at Dawlish, Devon - where a stretch of railway track has been destroyed because of storms - the spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has said that he is ruling nothing out in terms of providing assistance."

Meanwhile, the Government was warned that Cornwall's MPs could withdraw their support for the HS2 rail project unless ministers showed similar commitment to invest money in providing a long-term solution to the vulnerability of the railway where it runs along the sea front at Dawlish.

Suggestions have included re-routing the line inland, covering it with a shelter or drilling a tunnel through cliffs to keep it away from the waves.

St Ives MP Andrew George welcomed Mr McLoughlin's promise of a report on a long-term solution to the issue, but warned that it must not be allowed to drag on too long.

"I would rather have a quick and dirty report give us the figures on what the options are," Mr George told BBC Radio 4's World at One. "We need to have some well-understood evidence from engineers who understand the situation."

The Lib Dem MP added: "We in Cornwall and across the South West as MPs have, across all parties, supported the Government in their plans to invest in HS2 and Crossrail. We want to ensure that there is at least some concomitant investment in a robust and resilient service from Paddington to Penzance.

"It may become difficult in time if the Government don't show that in fact, as well as investing in what is clearly going to be a very major infrastructure project, they won't end up leaving Cornwall with a Third World service."